Update: BBC video report available here
Wendy and I have just attended the vigil of reception for the remains of Cardinal Newman. We are not used to proceeding through several police officers to get to the upper cloister hall at the Oratory House! Perhaps this is a precaution based on certain militant homosexuals who loosely associate themselves with the Catholic cause. The officers were good natured and pleased to give their assistance.
Wendy and I have just attended the vigil of reception for the remains of Cardinal Newman. We are not used to proceeding through several police officers to get to the upper cloister hall at the Oratory House! Perhaps this is a precaution based on certain militant homosexuals who loosely associate themselves with the Catholic cause. The officers were good natured and pleased to give their assistance.
The upper cloister hall hosted a moving and austere tribute to the founding father of its congregation. We were greeted at the door by the Parish Priest Fr Guy Nicholls, and given some literature on Newman and a pamphlet guiding us through what was on display, which I shall quote from. There is strictly no photography allowed.
The location itself was fitting: Father John Henry Newman opened this very room in May 1859 as part of their school. It was the place where his remains lay in state before his requiem Mass and procession to Rednal. The display had as its centre point, at the far side of the room, a glass Casket Reliquary which contained some of the most important remains. These will be the focus of the ceremony incorporated into Sunday's High Mass (which I hope to write about, but again will not permit photography). In it are:
1) Some locks of the Cardinal's hair. These now take on a special significance, since in the absence of any further earthly remains, they will provide first-class relics to be presented to the Pope. These in the casket will remain in the Oratory Church, but there were several others on display in another cabinet which will presumably be presented to other significant places.
2) A piece of linen thought to be stained with the Cardinal's blood. This had been kept by the Sisters of the Spiritual Family The Work. They look after the College at Littlemore, where I have yet to make pilgrimage. This is the place where Newman became a Catholic in October 1845, after seeking out an almost monastic existence away from his work as Vicar of St Mary's in Oxford.
3) A small crucifix which was found in Newman's grave; made of wood and with a silver edging.
4) Some of the soil from the area where Cardinal Newman's coffin had been, in a silver topped container.
5) A Tassle, barely recognisable, which is presumably from Newman's Cardinal hat.
To each side of the glass Casket was placed two further glass cabinets which contained other artifacts and relics for the purpose of display:
In the cabinet on the left were some of the brass remains from Newman's coffin. These included one of the handles (the other three are still being restored), the brass nameplate, and the ornate brass Cardinal's hat with its accompanying tassles and cross. Photos of the latter two items have previously been published by the Oratory Fathers and can be seen on the News section of the website.
In the cabinet on the right was the remaining fragments of Newman's hair in various little frames, one of Newman's Rosaries, one of his breviaries, a red biretta and zuchetta, and two of Newman's letters to Gerard Manley Hopkins when the young poet was thinking about becoming a Catholic.
On the stage behind all these precious artifacts where two of the Cardinal's cassocks (one made of fine red silk, the other simpler and black with red piping) and his crozier. There was also a portrait on display by Claude Pratt. As we left the hall, Wendy recorded some special intentions in a book provided, which included the hope of having a second child. To attribute this to the great Cardinal's intercession would be a great blessing.
It was initially planned to be a great sarcophagus containing the earthly body of Newman. But he was to have his simple and noble wish - to return to the dust from which he had been formed, sharing the same place as his good friend and fellow priest, Ambrose St John, who died 15 years before.
It was this friend that Newman felt had been specially given him by God following the painful conversion away from the Anglican Church, and the loss of so many whom he held dear. It was Ambrose who was Newman's constant companion from then on; in life and death. Such a friendship should deserve our admiration and inspiration towards Christian Charity, and certainly not any distortion and manipulation into something unholy.
Special Masses over the next two days are:
Friday 31 October at 8pm - Votive Mass of the Blessed Sacrament, celebrated by Bishop William Kenney, CP, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.
Saturday 1 November at 8 am - Votive Mass of Our Lady, celebrated by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster.
Saturday 1 November at 9.30am (cloister chapel) - Low Mass for the Feast of All Saints according to the 1962 Missal
Saturday 1 November at 11 am - Votive Mass of St Philip Neri, celebrated by Bishop Philip Pargeter, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.
Sunday 2 November at 11am - (invite only) Novus Ordo Pontifical High Mass for transferred feast of All Saints, celebrated by Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham.
N.B. Above Mass will be televised live on EWTN
The location itself was fitting: Father John Henry Newman opened this very room in May 1859 as part of their school. It was the place where his remains lay in state before his requiem Mass and procession to Rednal. The display had as its centre point, at the far side of the room, a glass Casket Reliquary which contained some of the most important remains. These will be the focus of the ceremony incorporated into Sunday's High Mass (which I hope to write about, but again will not permit photography). In it are:
1) Some locks of the Cardinal's hair. These now take on a special significance, since in the absence of any further earthly remains, they will provide first-class relics to be presented to the Pope. These in the casket will remain in the Oratory Church, but there were several others on display in another cabinet which will presumably be presented to other significant places.
2) A piece of linen thought to be stained with the Cardinal's blood. This had been kept by the Sisters of the Spiritual Family The Work. They look after the College at Littlemore, where I have yet to make pilgrimage. This is the place where Newman became a Catholic in October 1845, after seeking out an almost monastic existence away from his work as Vicar of St Mary's in Oxford.
3) A small crucifix which was found in Newman's grave; made of wood and with a silver edging.
4) Some of the soil from the area where Cardinal Newman's coffin had been, in a silver topped container.
5) A Tassle, barely recognisable, which is presumably from Newman's Cardinal hat.
To each side of the glass Casket was placed two further glass cabinets which contained other artifacts and relics for the purpose of display:
In the cabinet on the left were some of the brass remains from Newman's coffin. These included one of the handles (the other three are still being restored), the brass nameplate, and the ornate brass Cardinal's hat with its accompanying tassles and cross. Photos of the latter two items have previously been published by the Oratory Fathers and can be seen on the News section of the website.In the cabinet on the right was the remaining fragments of Newman's hair in various little frames, one of Newman's Rosaries, one of his breviaries, a red biretta and zuchetta, and two of Newman's letters to Gerard Manley Hopkins when the young poet was thinking about becoming a Catholic.
On the stage behind all these precious artifacts where two of the Cardinal's cassocks (one made of fine red silk, the other simpler and black with red piping) and his crozier. There was also a portrait on display by Claude Pratt. As we left the hall, Wendy recorded some special intentions in a book provided, which included the hope of having a second child. To attribute this to the great Cardinal's intercession would be a great blessing.
It was initially planned to be a great sarcophagus containing the earthly body of Newman. But he was to have his simple and noble wish - to return to the dust from which he had been formed, sharing the same place as his good friend and fellow priest, Ambrose St John, who died 15 years before.
It was this friend that Newman felt had been specially given him by God following the painful conversion away from the Anglican Church, and the loss of so many whom he held dear. It was Ambrose who was Newman's constant companion from then on; in life and death. Such a friendship should deserve our admiration and inspiration towards Christian Charity, and certainly not any distortion and manipulation into something unholy.
I went to sleep; and now I am refreshed.
A strange refreshment: for I feel in me
An inexpressive lightness, and a sense
Of freedom, as I were at length myself,
And ne'er had been before. How still it is!
The Dream of Gerontius - John Henry Newman
Special Masses over the next two days are:
Friday 31 October at 8pm - Votive Mass of the Blessed Sacrament, celebrated by Bishop William Kenney, CP, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.
Saturday 1 November at 8 am - Votive Mass of Our Lady, celebrated by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster.
Saturday 1 November at 9.30am (cloister chapel) - Low Mass for the Feast of All Saints according to the 1962 Missal
Saturday 1 November at 11 am - Votive Mass of St Philip Neri, celebrated by Bishop Philip Pargeter, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham.
Sunday 2 November at 11am - (invite only) Novus Ordo Pontifical High Mass for transferred feast of All Saints, celebrated by Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham.
N.B. Above Mass will be televised live on EWTN
SOLEMN HIGH MASS & TRANSLATION OF THE REMAINS OF JOHN HENRY CARDINAL NEWMAN (LIVE) 2 1/2 hrs.
From The Oratory, Birmingham England. Solemn High Mass & Translation of the Remains of John Henry Cardinal Newman.
Sun 11/2/08 5:30 AM ET & 2:20 AM PT
Sun 11/2/08 12:00 PM ET & 9:00 AM PT
Many thanks for posting this fascinating and useful information.
ReplyDeleteI shall pray that your prayers are answered.